Ma'ny1, a.
(mĕn'ŷ), a. [It has no variation to express degrees of comparison: more and most, which are used for the comparative and superlative degrees, are from a different root.] [A-S. maneg, manig, multus, pl. manega, multi; O. Sax. manag, maneg, Goth. manags, O. H. Ger. manag, manig, M. H. Ger. manec, manic, manc, manech, N. H. Ger. manch, Icel. mangi, Dan. mange, Sw. mange, D. menig, allied to O. Slav. mnogi, Russ. mnogii, Pol. mnogi, Bohem. mnohi.] Comprising, or consisting of, a great number of individuals; not few; numerous.
Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Gen. xvii. 4.
Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Cor. i. 26.
Many is prefixed to a great number of words forming compounds which need no special explanation; as, many-angled, many-capsuled, many-celled, many-cleft, many-colored, many-cornered, many-eyed, many-flowered, many-footed, many-fruited, many-haired, many-handed, many-headed, many-jointed, many-keeled, many-knotted, many-languaged, many-leaved, many-legged, many-lettered, many-mastered, many-named, many-parted, many-peopled, many-petalled, many-seeded, many-shaped, many-sided, many-sidedness, many-streaked, many-syllabled (polysyllabic), many-toned, many-tongued, many-toothed, many-tribed, many-twinkling, many-valved, many-veined, many-voiced, many-wived, many-zoned, and the like.
Many is much used in comparison. “As many as were willing hearted brought bracelets.” Exod. xxxv. 22. “So many laws argue so many sins.” Milton.
Many, a, a large number taken distributively; each one of many. “Full many a gem of purest ray serene.” Gray. — The many, the greater number; the crowd; the commonalty. “The vulgar and the many are fit only to be led or driven.” South. “The toiling many, and the resting few.” Wordsworth. — Too many, too powerful or too much; as, they are too many for us. [Colloq. and low.] L'Estrange. See ANY.
Synonyms— Numerous; multiplied; frequent; manifold; various; divers; sundry.